ALAMOSA, Colo. — There is just something about trains that fascinates both young and old alike. Historic trains are even more fun ... the ones that roll down tracks that were laid down more than a century ago to bring gold and silver ore out of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Many folks love great music about the American West and history. Now, put the two together, and you have a winning combination that the whole family can enjoy together.

"Kids love trains and the time they get with family when riding," said cowboy singer/poet Michael Martin Murphey. "The cowboy entertainment that I have decided to do in conjunction with all of this is totally family friendly. All ages will like it. I do cowboy songs, train songs and songs about nature and love."

Now, to understand this "On the Trail" story, we have to go back about 25 years to when I first met Michael Martin Murphey when I was a young(er) reporter at KOAT's Action 7 News in Albuquerque.

I was interviewing him not about music, but on an environmental issue on water in northern New Mexico. At that time, I had no idea that he would become one of my closest confidants and his advice, friendship and support over the following years has been irreplaceable. His friends call him "Murph."

What Murph is talking about now is his latest concert adventure aboard the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad. You can board the train in Alamosa or La Veta, Colo.

"The setting is spectacular, the scenery on the ride is great," Murph said.

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"I have total artistic freedom to play the songs that I feel will inspire the audience."

Murph's music has always inspired me, way before most of the world discovered him in the mid-1970s, when a song called "Wildfire" made him an international superstar overnight. Even to this day, when I hear him sing "Wildfire" live, every hair on the back of my neck stands up. Murph told me once "the song came to me in a dream."

One of the biggest things I respect about Murph is he has always stood up for the little person and simply does what he believes is right — even when that meant turning his back on what Nashville executives thought he should be doing. Instead, he embarked on promoting the cowboy, the land, animals and America in general. The Nashville executives should have backed him, because he is now the world's largest-selling cowboy singer.

These days, Murph's music varies and even goes back to his roots before he became a superstar. His latest release is called "Buckaroo Bluegrass."

"There is a strong connection between bluegrass music and cowboy music," Murph said. "Both genres are truly born of the country life and being close to the land. Acoustic instruments are generally preferred in both kinds of music.

"So I decided to create a hybrid of the two forms, hopefully taking the best elements of both," he added.

Back to the train concerts — the railroads called them Super Domes, Great Domes or Big Domes, but whatever they are called, the view of the mountains, the wildlife and the train from a full-length dome car is an unparalleled experience on a Colorado train.

After a beautiful ride on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, you wind up in a meadow where you will enjoy some of the best music you have ever heard.

"The setting is the most spectacular concert site I've ever played," Murph said. "The train ride is the most scenic in Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountain Range from Canada to Mexico."

The concert lasts about three hours. After that, you get to enjoy yet another ride on the train back to Alamosa or La Veta.

Murph's "Mountain Music Show" runs on dates from July 10 to August 2. For more information, visit www.riograndescenicrailroad.com or call (877) 726-RAIL.

Now, if you do miss the Colorado train concert experience, you really don't want to miss a "Cowboy Christmas" concert and those are held all over America, beginning in November.

"This year will mark the 75th anniversary of the continuing re-enactment of the Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball in Anson, (Texas)," Murph said. "The original ball was in the 1880s. I've decided to work with the Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball Committee to offer a VIP Cowboy Christmas Ball dinner before the ball starts on Thursday, December 17th."

He explained, "This will give a few fortunate folks the chance to meet the folks who run the Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball in Anson, Texas. While we share the dinner, they'll be talking about the incredible history of the ball, and what its future might be. Every year I've dined with the TCCB Committee before I play my set, and I can assure you the food is always out of this world."

I can vouch for that, Murph ain't telling a windy. I have enjoyed sharing a meal several times there myself. The food the ladies of the TCCB whoop up really is some of the best the Lone Star Sate has to offer and Suanne Holtman is one of the best cooks around. The ladies really know how to feed a cowboy.

If you go to the Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball in Anson, a friendly word of advice, do not wear your hat past the building entrance. You will receive a hefty fine. Actually, I think the TCCB hope a few will violate the rules so they can raise a few dollars to fix their leaky tin roof.

For more information on the Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball in Anson and all of Murph's other concerts visit www.michaelmartinmurphey.com

Looking down the trail, I look forward to working with Murph on several projects that we both hold dear to our hearts. As long as I have a breath in me, through "On the Trail," I plan to continue to tell the stories of honest, hard working people who are trying very hard to make this world a better place to be.

I can guarantee you Murph is doing exactly the same.

"The most important issue in the world today is the lack of food and related environmental problems," Murph said. "When people realize what is happening to the American Prairie. They will be shocked."

There is much more to this story, so if you are interested in saving the American Prairie, please keep reading this column.

In short, Murph has stood up for "On the Trail" and me personally more times than I can remember. This cowboy will never forget that.

Sam Conn can be reached at sam@cowboyreporter.com, (575) 538-1033, or by writing Cowboy Reporter, P.O. Box 734, Bayard, NM, 88023. Most of my story ideas come from you. You folks keep me on the trail. Past "On the Trail" stories are available free online at www.cowboyreporter.com